CICERO, N.Y. - Gary Palladino is an unabashed fan of the Hiller Heights section of Cicero.

He and his wife, Grace, have lived there for 35 years and he has come to really admire "this beautiful neighborhood."

"I consider this area to be underappreciated," he said.

The neighborhood offers, he believes, unique homes, where no two are alike, and close proximity to shopping, restaurants and major highways.

The couple live right around the corner from the Simiele-built Colonial at 6073 Rose Arbor Lane, which they purchased with their friends, Bob and Joni Henderson in November 2016.

"I knew the construction, I loved the floor plan, the way it flows," he said.

He also knew that it needed a complete remodel from the roof down, saying the home, built in 1976, had to be brought from the 1970s to modern times.

When they were finished, the house was the "best of both worlds," a combination of the superior construction of the 1970s with all of today's modern design.

Palladino said they did not make a budget during the renovations, nor did they consult any builders.

"We did what we wanted," he said.

New features include: Pella windows, hardwood floors throughout, wall-to-wall carpeting, a stone wood-burning fireplace with gas connection in the family room and a cherry and granite eat-in kitchen.

The kitchen has a butler's pantry and leads out onto a bright sun room, which Palladino says can be enjoyed all year long.

The couple had worked to give each of the rooms their "own personality."

The home's most intriguing feature is probably the massive in-law apartment, a term which Palladino considers an injustice.

"It is really a small house," he said.

With its own kitchen, full bathroom, two bedrooms and private entrances through its own garage space or from the outside, the apartment is perfect for elderly relatives or a young family not yet ready to strike out on their own.

Palladino jokes that that the apartment allows relatives to be as close to family "as they want, or don't want."

Between the truly unique apartment and the complete renovation, Palladino says, "you won't see many houses like this, a true one of a kind."

An open house is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 18, from noon to 3 p.m.

THE DETAILS

Address: 6073 Rose Arbor Lane, Cicero, N.Y. 13039

Price: $369,900

Size: 3,328 square feet

Acreage: 0.35 acres

Monthly Mortgage: $1,454 (based on this week's national average rate of 4.24 percent, according to Freddie Mac, for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 20 percent down payment. Fees and points not included.)

Taxes: $5,917 (Based on assessed value of $230,000)

Built: 1976

School District: Cicero-North Syracuse

Kitchen: The new mammoth custom eat-in kitchen features granite counters and cherry cupboards. All new Moen fixtures have been added and up-to-date stainless appliances. A custom butler's pantry has been added. The kitchen is described as "very bright." The kitchen is attached to a sunroom, which the owner says can be used all year long.

Bedrooms: The main part of the house has four spacious bedrooms. The master bedroom's walk-in closet features a sliding barndoor and lighting.

Bathrooms: Master bathroom has new ceramic tiles and granite counters and features a sit-down rain shower. The home's main bathroom has a shower unit, tub and double sinks. There is a total of three-and-a-half bathrooms in the main portion of the house.

Living areas: Home, originally built in 1976, has been given a complete remodel, with new hardwood floors, roof, trim, carpeting, and Pella windows. The family room has impressive new stone wood-burning fireplace, with optional natural gas connection.

In-law apartment: Arguably the home's most intriguing feature. Owner says it is such a large space it is almost a "small house." Features all-new hardwood floors, cathedral ceiling and private entrance from its own garage space or from the outside. The apartment has its own kitchen, full bathroom and two bedrooms. Perfect for elderly relatives or grown children not ready to strike out on their own.

Outside: House is built on about one-third of an acre. Features a three-car garage, recently landscaped yard and Stampcrete patio. Owners call the neighborhood a good mix of people and friendly, and call the Hiller Heights neighborhood the kind of place people move back to after leaving. Neighborhood has close proximity to shopping, restaurants, airport and area's major highways.